Folding stretcher



H. LIEDTKE FOLDING STRTCHER y Feb. y

Filed J'uly 28, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Liledke BJQMAJQLM Feb. 12 1924.

H. LlEDTKE FOLDING STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28. 1925 72H/@ MM Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

,T ,1. 'rE S Para FOLDING sfrnnronnn.

Application filed July 28,

To all whom t may concern,

Be it known that I, Hons'r Linnrrkn, a citi- Zen of Germany, and resident of Berlin- Schoneberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fold` ing` Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding stretchers, and more particularly in stretchers equipped with wheeled legs. One of the objects of the improvements is to provide a. stretcher which when folded requires little space, and with this object in view my invention consists in constructing the fra-me of the stretcher intwo sections jointed to each other at the middle for being folded about a transverse axis and having legs jointed thereto which cross each other in the manner of a pair of scissors, the ar rangement being such that when folding the stretcher the legs are disposed between the sections of the stretcher. Another obj-ect of the improvements is to provide means for readily disposing the folded stretcher within a box or closet.

`With this object in View I provide shoes adapted to receive the handles of one of the sections, which shoes are hinged to the bottom of the box or closet and are acted upon by springs tending to hold the same in vertical position.

For the purpose of explaining the invention an example embodying the same has been shown in the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the stretcher in the position ready for use,

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the folded stretcher,

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a box or closet for keeping the stretcher, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4.

In the example shown in the drawings my improved stretcher frame is made in two sections comprising longitudinal bars 1, 1 and la, 1n and transverse rods 1, 1c and the longitudinal bars are at their ends in the form of handles 1". rlhe bars, 1 and 1a are jointed at 6. To the bars four legs 5 are jointed at 7, which cross each other in pairs in the manner of a pair of scissors. 'lwo of the legs are connected at their bot 1923. serial No. 654,402.

tom ends to a transverse rod 2a, and on the said rod a pair of wheels 2 are mounted. The other legs carry end supporting wheels 3 and 4. To the bars 1 keepers 8 are secured which are in position for being engaged by springs 9 secured to the bars 1 when the stretcher is in position ready for use, for holding the bars 1 and 1:L in alignment. lVhen folding the stretcher in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the handles 1b project downwardly beyond the wheels 2, 3 and 4 so as to provide feet for supporting the folded stretcher on the ground in an upright position with the wheels elevated, and between the sections of the stretcher and the rods 1C and 2'Ll there is sufficient room for accommodating a bag containing medicines and the like.

For placing the folded stretcher into a box or closet sleeves 11 are hinged at 12 to the bottom b of the box or closet, which sleeves provide shoes for one pair of the handles of the stretcher. To the sleeves springs 14 are attached which are connected with their opposite ends to the rear wall of the box or closet a. At the side the shoes show cut-out portions 13 which are in position for engagement by noses 17 of springs 16 secured to the bottom b.

Then out of use the stretcher is kept within the box or closet a with its handles 1b supported within the sleeves 11, as is shown in Fig. 4 in full lines. For removing the stretcher it is turned downwardly and into the position shown in Fig. 4 in dotted lines, in which the sleeve 11 is locked in position against the action of the spring 14 by the spring 16, 17. New a bag 10 containing medicines and binding material may be placed between the rods 2a and 1", as is shown in Fig. 3. Then using the stretcher the bars 1 and 1a are turned about their axis 6 until the spring 94 bears on the top of the lug or keeper 8. Now also the legs 5 and the wheels 2, 3 and 4 are in the positions shown in F ig. 1. For placing the stretcher into the box or closet a the handles 1b are put into the sleeves 11 locked in the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby the handles push back the lugs 1T of the springs 16, so that the springs 14 pull the stretcher into the box and into vertical position.

I claim:

In a folding stretcher, a frame composed of two sections pivotally connected at their adjacent ends, handles carried by the outer ends of the frame sections, means for lock ing the sections in alinement, pairs of legs pvotally connected tothe frame sections at points located outwardly of the pivotal connection between the sections, a'rod connecting the opposite extremities of said legs supporting wheels journaled on said rod, additional legs pivotally secured intermediate their ends to the medial portions of the first mentioned legs, means pivotally connecting certain ends of the second mentioned legs in pairs, and wheels carried by the opposite extremities of the second mentioned legs, the sections of said frame being adapted7 subsequent to the release of the HORST LIEDTKE. V'Vitness:

EMIL KoT'rnRITZsCH. 

